The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure - By Storm Constantine Page 0,199

of the caves on the rock faces, perhaps he would meet the shaman again. You see, I have grown. I have learned. I have passed through one of the gates now. I understand. Thank you.

Flick dismounted and led the horse up the valley. It nudged his back with its nose, snorting. Occasionally, it strained away from his grip to graze upon the lush mountain grass, like any normal beast. Although it was huge, and very powerful, it appeared to have a sweet nature. Around them, the trees were bare, and already snow coated the high peaks, but Flick guessed this would be paradise in summer time.

His reverie was cut short by the arrival of Vaysh, who didn’t look angry or impatient. His expression was impassive. He rode alongside Flick for a while and neither of them spoke. Then, Vaysh said, ‘Your friends are upset. You should return to them.’

‘I’m enjoying the solitude,’ Flick said. ‘I haven’t been alone for a long time.’

‘I cannot stay. I must return the sedim to Immanion. The creature you rode is not a horse exactly. It is a sedu.’

Flick stopped walking and stroked his horse’s neck. ‘Sedu…Can’t I keep him?’

Vaysh regarded him thoughtfully. ‘That is impossible.’

‘Pell’s brother stole my horse,’ Flick said. It was a small lie, but perhaps worth it. ‘I think that deserves compensation, and the Tigron can surely afford it.’

‘Pell’s brother…’

‘Yes, the Tigron might be interested to know about him, but then doesn’t he know everything already?’

Vaysh said nothing, but his expression was eloquent.

‘You can tell him Terez is har, as is Dorado, who I have not met. The last time I saw Terez he vowed to find Immanion. Do I take it that quest has not been successful?’

‘It occurred to me that the dark-skinned har in your company was once related to Pellaz,’ said Vaysh.

‘An easy mistake to make,’ Flick said. If he was to take advantage of Kamagrian hospitality, he felt obliged to keep their secrets.

‘He seemed to think I should know him.’

‘He is of high rank among his own tribe, that is all. Is the Tigron planning to meet us face to face at any point?’

‘I have no idea,’ Vaysh said. ‘He is very busy.’

‘I heard he has a consort now.’

‘Yes. Caeru is Tigrina.’

‘And what of Cal? I presume you know of him.’

‘That is not my concern.’

‘You are a mine of information, aren’t you?’

‘I cannot discuss with you the matters pressing upon your mind. If you are so curious about them, perhaps you should have let those who pursued you take you to Immanion. Then, you would have had all your questions answered.’ Vaysh’s scorn was withering.

Flick wished the har would just leave. ‘I want to keep the horse,’ he said. ‘I won’t pry into your secrets. I don’t know how to make him fly. I just want him.’

Vaysh sighed through his nose and for some moments stared at the high peaks. Then, he came to a conclusion. ‘Keep him for now, but I might have to return and take him from you. His name is Astral. He looks to you like a horse, but the sedim are more than that, as you have discovered. If you attempt otherlane travel with Astral, it will fail. I will instruct him not to allow it.’

‘Do what you like. It seems to me he can be a worldly creature too. That is all I want.’

Vaysh nodded curtly. ‘I will tell Pellaz of your request. I expect he will grant it.’ He turned his mount around and galloped it back down the valley.

For a few minutes, Flick remained where he was, soaking up the raw essence of the landscape, experiencing the pure dazed feeling that gripped his being. It didn’t feel too bad, that was the thing. His heart felt lighter than it had for years.

Chapter Twenty Nine

Shilalama, effectively the capital of Roselane, had existed for centuries before Opalexian found her way to it and made it her headquarters. A long time ago, human ascetics had formed a community there, entranced by the wind-sculpted rock formations that had created a natural city in the high mountains. An air of spirituality and sanctity permeated the very stones of the city, and it was daily cleansed by pure fresh winds. In this place, Opalexian had sought to create her ideal community, as had many harish leaders. Hers differed in that she foresaw humans, hara and parazha living together, their lives devoted to meditation and self-evolution.

Wishing to remain invisible to the harish population in neighbouring territory,